The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-03
MINISTER'S DAY AT BETHANY
Rev. R.V. Hunters Timely Discourse on
"The Duty of Christians tothe State
What Honest and Respectable People Should
Learn from the Election Conspiracy Case
Prof. Ridpaths Lecture at Camp Acton.

Bethany Park yesterday than at any previous
time in the history of the assembly. 1t was MIN
isterial day. The assembly lecture was deilv-
cred at II o'clock by Rev. r. V Hunter, OF In
dianapolis His subject was the DUTY OF the
Christian to the State" The Christian Mr..
Hunter said, owes no negative duty to the he-
public. He is bound by the highest considera-
tions to take vital interest in all those affairs
which have to do with the creation and the en-
forcement of law. The Christian citizen,
OF all citizens, is bound TO see that
the national foundations well laid,
and that the structure is compactly built.
If the average citizen is patriotic the Christian
citize should be ever more patriotic. he en-
joys greater, higher and nobler privileges. Inc
American conception of government is the
highest, for the reason that it embraces the best
points of the Hebrew, the Grecian. the Roman
aad the various governments of modern Europe
From the Hebrews is taken reverence, morality
and Obedience from the Greek and Roman
self sacrifice and patriotism, coupled with
modern intelligence love of liberty and benevo-
lence. The speaker believed in the introductioa
of the study of civics in the colleges and high
schools. Civics should be taught from public
platforms. The pulpit should take up the strain
and ring all the changes possible.
''In view of what we have recently seen, and
what Is SO fresh in our mind just now. in
own capital city. Indianapolis" said Mr.. Hun
ter, 1T would seem as though intelligent. honest
and conscientious men would be interested In
politics. If decent people refrain from taking
part in the making of laws and in the selection
and election of those men who shall make the
laws. and also those who shall administer them,
what else can we expect than that the unprin-
cipled, the licentious and worst elements of our
citizens will take hold of this work from which
position and money are to be derived! The
logic is bad; the practice IS worse. Whenever
the elections are turned over to the worst classes
then we NAV expect crime, lawlesSneSS and de-
bauchery.
LET us note some of the influences which the
Christian citizen will certainly be IL terested in
destroying. The liquor traffic is one of the
enemies of our government. 1t possesses
absolutely no virtue 1t Is immoral in every
phase 1t is the author of poverty and crime,
and there is absolutely no apology whatever for
the saloon. The only wonder is that society Will
tolerate this malady, this nuisance this crime
By-and- by the American people will be awak-
ened to a sense of their rights. and to an under
standing of this common enemy, and they will
take it by the throat and crush it, driving its
soul to the lowest hell tatistics show the
appalling ravages of the terrible monster,
intemperance Organized crime Is the
power which is attempting to rule
our Republic AS good citizens will we allow IT!
We are not surprised that the saloon can do this
thing when glance at its resources One
billion dollars invested in the business of manu-
featuring and selling. Last week we saw the
disgusting sight of men who, with their families,
stand high in social circles; men, some OF whom
bore high Offices recently in our State. who went
to the good character of men without character,
without morality and without principle They
can swear to anything, matter how false, to
preserve the integrity of their party. From
social stand point they would have nothing to do
with them whatever, out from political stand
point tn ey are bosom friends Such is politics
and such is the character of too many OF our
modern politicians"
The speaker alluded to corruption among the
officials of Marion county and the use of the City
Council of Indianapolis by monopolies. and CON
-l11a fn1l0 Nhr1Gr I'M an
of to-day. must educate. we must act, we
must drive roeues from power, and we must do
it largely by attending to politics ourselves"
Elder Joseph Franklin. of Bedford, the presi-
dent of the Ministerial Association, delivered
address O'Clock p NJ. The Keys of the
Kingdom and Some Other Keys j. L. Par
sons of Rushville, spoke eloquently of the New
Testament Preacher" At o'clock F. NJ. A. W.
Conner. of Orange delivered a discourse.
President q. R. Benton of Butler University.
J. p Ewing. of Charlottesville, Henry R.
Pritchard, of Indianapolis. and Neil Mcleod Of
Evansville, will speak to-day.
--------
At Acton Camp Grounds.
Along the railroad to the Acton camp grounds
the dry grass in the fields was burning in many
places yesterday. In some places trees on
fire. and in others fences. The smoke of burn
ing grass was blown into the cars through the
open windows, and at times was sitting
The campers are hoping for rain. and are
almost at the point of praying for it. They
stay in their cottages find the best shaded
spots in the camp, and pay little attention to
the exercises at Assembly Hail. whether devo-
tional or intellectual.
The opening service yesterday forenoon. at 9
o'clock, led by Rev. DR.. Geo. p. Jenkins, of
Rising Sum- in the afternoon Rev. Alfred Kun
mer preached 1.-THE Elevating and Reforming
Forces of Christianity"
Dr. John Clarke Rid path lectured in the even
ing. his subject being, History and Historical
Study The lecture was an hour and half in
n~,2 into
he said: History does not teach
that the weak shall inherit the earth simply be-
cause they good. She teaches that the
strong shall take it and keep it forever. But
just. It is not meekness but wisdom, it is not
humility, but courage, it is contrition but
audacity. that prevails and conquers and reigns.
But wisdom is unwise when 1t is folly courage
is cowardce when it IS constituencies and
audacity is when it waves the flag of
falsehood. 1t is not the fearful face, but the
fiery eye of battle. not soft petition
handed up. but blank defiance
handed down. not Innocent tapers
noddng in the night but the blazing torch of
swung beacon wise by brawny and
rebellious hands, that wins the peace and brings
repose. and lights the path through darkness
the dawn. But the eye of battle darts fire
when it elares in the socket of crime: defiance
loses his bugle when he sounds the tocsin of tyr
blackness when it is raised against the temple
Of truth and concord" To-day Rev. DIR. Earl
A NJ; at P. Nj. Wallace Bruce will lecture on
Native Mettle" and in the evening Miss Kath-
een c. Coffin. of Westfeld, will give readings
and recitations
Bruce Park campaigning.
The first evening service at the camp-meeting
1t Bruce Park, on College avenue, was held at
; o'clock NJ. yesterday. Mrs. Mershon ad-
dressed attentive audience on Christian work
There will be services each day at and o'clock